Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Sweet Lauretta’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Sweet Lauretta’ characterized by having a dark green leaf color, large leaf size, vigorous growth, large white inflorescences and spadix, and long pedicels.

Latin name of the genus species of the plant claimed: Spathiphyllumhybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Sweet Lauretta’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant, hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SweetLauretta’.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breedingprogram in Monster, The Netherlands. The female parent is ‘91327-10’(unpatented). The male parent is ‘93161-95’ (unpatented). ‘SweetLauretta’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Petrus C. M.Olsthoorn, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated crossin a controlled environment in Monster, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by tissueculture in week 12 of 1998 in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction and reproduce true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Sweet Lauretta’ which in combinationdistinguish this Spathiphyllum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. .Dark green leaf color;

2. Big leaf size;

3. Vigorous growth;

4. Large white inflorescences with large spadix; and

5. Long pedicels.

‘Sweet Lauretta’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands, under conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Sweet Lauretta’ is the cultivar ‘Cupido’(unpatented). ‘Sweet Lauretta’ has darker, glossier, longer and widerleaves than ‘Cupido’. ‘Sweet Lauretta’ grows 20 to 30 percent morevigorously than ‘Cupido’. The inflorescences of ‘Sweet Lauretta’ aremuch larger than those of ‘Cupido’. The spadix of the inflorescences of‘Sweet Lauretta’ are 30 to 40 percent larger than the spadix of theinflorescences of ‘Cupido’. The main vein color of ‘Sweet Lauretta’ islighter than the main vein color of ‘Cupido’. The inflorescence stem of‘Sweet Lauretta’ is darker than the inflorescence stem of ‘Cupido’.‘Cupido’ is more sensitive to light than ‘Sweet Lauretta’, resultingfaster lighter leaf color. Finally, in order to get the shoots of aSpathiphyllum to flower gibberalic acid is added. ‘Cupido’ needs morethan twice the concentration of this hormone than ‘Sweet Lauretta’ toget the same result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings show 35-week old plants of ‘SweetLauretta’.

The first drawing shows a 35-week old plant on the left and a close upof the inflorescence on the right.

The second drawing shows on the upper side a comparison photo of ‘SweetLauretta’ on the left and comparison variety ‘Cupido’ to the right. Thelower comparison photo shows a leaf of ‘Cupido’ (upper) and ‘SweetLauretta’ (lower).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar at 35-weeks as grown in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Grown in standard glasshouses in well-drained cocos, pH valuesin cocos/peat soil (50/50) is 6.0-6.2 and 5.8 -6.0 in potting soil. Basefertilizing (PG-mix) is 0.75 kgs in cocos/peat soil as well as inpotting soil. This species needs careful fertilizer treatment; mixes ofcalcium nitrate, iron chelate (EDDHA and DTPA), magnesium sulphate, monopotassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, borax, manganese, molybdenum andcopper sulphate. Ideal growing conditions under which this plant isgrown is 21-23 degrees Celsius during the day and 20 degrees Celsius atnight. For flower initiation ‘Sweet Lauretta’ gets 80 ppm of gibberalicacid (depending on the pot size, plant development and age of plant).

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance areused. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximatelynoon in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

Origin: Honselersdijk, The Netherlands, November 2001.

Parentage:

Male parent.—‘91327-10’.

Female parent.—‘93161-95’.

Classification:

Botanical.—Spathiphyllum.

Commercial.—Spathiphyllum cv. Sweet Lauretta.

Propagation: By tissue culture.

Plant:

Appearance.—Upright to broad upright with leaf petioles growing directlyfrom base.

Height.—Average 80 cm (excluding inflorescences).

Width.—Average 85 cm.

Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous to vigorous.

Time of flowering.—30 weeks after potting of a 20 cm cutting.

Winter hardiness.—USDA Zone 10.

Stems.—Leaves grow directly from base, so no stems are visible.

Roots.—Time to initiate roots: 1-2 weeks under 21-23 degrees Celsius(day) and 20 degrees Celsius at night. Time to develop roots: 3-4 weeksunder 21-23 degrees Celsius (day) and 20 degrees Celsius at night.Rooting habit: Freely branching.

Foliage:

Shape.—Narrow elliptic to narrow ovate.

Apex.—Apiculate, often curled downwards.

Base.—Attenuate.

Texture.—Smooth, glossy, somewhat leathery.

Leaf color.—Upper surface: Green, closest to but darker in color betweenRHS 147A and RHS 139A. Lower surface: Green RHS 137B.

Midrib color.—Upper Surface: Green RHS 143A. Lower Surface: Yellow-greenRHS 144B to RHS 144C.

Size of leaf.—Width: Average 14 cm. Length: Average 37 cm. Petiole:Average length 52 cm, average diameter 5 mm, rounded, green darker thanbut closest in color between RHS 143A and RHS 139A.

Petiole sheath.—Average 28 cm long and 5 mm wide (measured at halfwaypoint).

Geniculum.—Average length 3.9 cm, average width 6 mm, green in color RHS143A to RHS 143B.

Veins.—Average 14 pairs of furrowed secondary veins, upper side greendarker than but closest in color between RHS 147A and RHS 139A, underside color yellow-green RHS 144A to RHS 144B.

Inflorescence description:

Immature.—Peduncle: Average length 75 cm, average diameter 5 mm,rounded, green in color RHS 143A to RHS 143B. Spathe: Average length 16cm, average width 6.5 cm, cupped, average depth 2.2 cm.

Mature.—Spathe: Size: Average length 18 cm, average width 6.9 cm,cupped, average depth 2.5 cm. Color: Unopened Bud: White, closest incolor between RHS 155A and RHS 157D. Fully Open: Front Surface: White,closest in color between RHS 155A, midrib green-white; RHS 157A. BackSurface: White, closest to RHS 155A, midrib green RHS 143A to RHS 143BApex: Apiculate, green RHS 143C. Faded: Front Surface: Brown RHS 199A.Back Surface: Brown RHS 199A to RHS 199B. Apex: Brown RHS 199A to RHS199B.

Arrangement.—Solitary.

Shape.—Broad-lanceolate; base decurrent.

Margins.—Entire.

Fragrance.—Sweet, pleasant.

Lastingness of the individual inflorescence.—On average over two weeks.

Reproductive organs:

Spadix.—Size: Average length 5.8 cm, average width 1.3 cm. Quantity:Average 175 individual flowers per spadix. Pedicel length: 1 to 1.5 cm.Color: Greyed-yellow RHS 160C. Stamens: 6, pressed against styles.Pistil: Each individual flower has one pistil with a tri-parted stigma;the pistil has an average length of 2 mm and is greyed-yellow in color,RHS 160C to RHS 160D.

Pollen.—Yellow-white RHS 158A.

Seed production: No observations to date.

Fruit production: No observations to date.

Disease resistance/susceptibility: No observations to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Spathiphyllum plant named ‘SweetLauretta’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.